variegated
Americanadjective
-
varied in appearance or color; marked with patches or spots of different colors.
-
varied; diversified; diverse.
adjective
-
displaying differently coloured spots, patches, streaks, etc
-
(of foliage or flowers) having pale patches, usually as a result of mutation, infection, etc
Other Word Forms
- unvariegated adjective
Etymology
Origin of variegated
Explanation
Something variegated has many different colors, as in the trees of autumn or the feathers of a peacock. Whenever you see "vari" at the beginning of a word, you know that the idea of difference or change is involved. Using vari is a good way to start thinking about this word. It's the same root as in various, variable, varied, and variety. All these words mean something similar: lots of different versions of something. The scales of a fish can appear quite variegated from one angle and then strangely uniform from another. A tiger's variegated coat helps it stay hidden.
Vocabulary lists containing variegated
A Doll's House
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
30 GRE Words Beginning with "T" "U" "V" and "W"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "V"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Like his films, Mr. Sayles’s novels are divided among a teeming cast of variegated characters.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 29, 2026
At times, it feels like every actor is in a different movie, though the variegated tones come together in bone-rattling sound design and textured cinematography to create an incredibly arresting cinematic experience.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 9, 2024
Hamlin's catastrophic on-field collapse and cardiac arrest on January 2, 2023 caused the unprecedented suspension of an NFL game, and brought home for a national TV audience the variegated harms of America's most popular sport.
From Salon • Feb. 11, 2024
“You’ll see variegated and bicolored varieties that may not do well in stuffy show competition, but are favorites in the garden.”
From Seattle Times • Sep. 21, 2023
A short beach of gray-white sand led to the cliff edge, which rose, a great face of variegated rock, for fifty feet.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
